What is considered the oldest known city in the world, inhabited by Sumerians?

The oldest known city in the world inhabited by Sumerians is Eridu. Often regarded as one of the earliest urban centers, Eridu holds significant archaeological importance as it gives insight into the early development of civilization in Mesopotamia. This city is often mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts, where it is considered a cultural and religious center dedicated to the god Enki. Archaeological findings suggest that Eridu was continuously inhabited from the Ubaid period (around 5500 BCE) and had a complex society that included monumental architecture, such as temples, which highlights the organizational and architectural advancements of the time.

Other locations mentioned, like Babylon, while historically significant and influential later in Sumerian civilization, were established after Eridu. Catal Huyuk is not a city in the traditional sense but a Neolithic settlement known for its unique architecture and urban development, predating Sumerian civilization but not classified as a city by later standards. Khirokitia, on the other hand, is a prehistoric site in Cyprus and also does not share the same historical context as Eridu when considering Sumerian cities.

Thus, Eridu is recognized as the earliest example of a city that embodies the characteristics of urban life as understood within the S